Schools most commonly struggle to recruit teachers for Irish, maths and French, the research found. Photograph: Getty ImagesHalf of secondary schools had to restrict student access to at least one subject due to teacher shortages last year, according to research published by the Teachers’ Union of Ireland (TUI). A fifth of schools were forced to drop at least one subject entirely, the survey of just over 100 school principals across the country found. Schools reported new hires pulling out of jobs in order to take up roles at other schools, with 55 per cent experiencing it after timetables had been put in place, resulting in significant disruption. “This relatively low vacancy rate suggests that the vast majority of schools are well-staffed and able to meet the needs of their students.”

Source: The Irish Times March 04, 2026 17:03 UTC